Blogger is Messing with Me!!!

My last post had a link to Sue's blog where my zipline video is posted.  Well . . . that link is now gone 😡  For those who could not see the video, click here and hopefully it will direct you to her blog!  I just don't understand what happened.

Our weather is finally improving.  Though still a bit chilly, it hasn't rained for a couple of days and the gardens are exploding with color.  I still haven't bought annuals yet.  SOON!

Siberian iris ~ one of my favorites

My rooster is rusting and I love him. 

I think froggy is praying I will finally get the little pond cleaned out.

Rusting lantern I purchased last year.
The hen and chicks survived the winter
and the squirrels haven't stolen them.

Isn't mother nature amazing? 
There is a tiny rust pinhole and a weed is growing from it. 

Please take a moment to remember why we are celebrating Memorial Day.  To those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, we appreciate your service and thank you for allowing us to be free.  Sadly, there is a price for freedom and we must never take it for granted.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

God Bless America!

Lauren

I'd Rather Mow than Blow ~

Thanksgiving is over already.  Anymore, it seems like the forgotten holiday.  Last evening my son departed for Las Vegas.  Even though he is 44 (how did that happen?) saying good-bye is always hard.  He was home for a week.  I can't remember the last time he was home for that long.  Thankfully both his flights were on schedule!  Now the madness begins, but as always, it is self inflicted.  

I have a big, crazy maple tree in my yard.  The leaves just kind of turn brown (no pretty fall color in all the years I have lived here) but many hang on until the middle of December  😖.  I find it easier and quicker to mow rather than use the leaf blower or to rake them.  Yesterday it was 39* and by the time I went out the sun had already retreated behind the clouds, so with a heavy winter coat, gloves and scarf, I mowed.  For the most part, I enjoy mowing ~ but not at the end of November!

The sun makes the leaves look yellow,
but they are just brown!

I finally got the simple curtain made for the remodeled half bath/laundry room.  Years ago I sewed - some clothes, kids' Halloween costumes, simple curtains.  You'd think I never sewed with how I procrastinated making this curtain.  I had a hard time finding fabric to my liking.  This is okay, not really what I had in mind, but it will do.  It's a little busier than I envisioned.

One HUGE lesson I learned is that cotton does not tear like wool does.  I bought a yard of fabric and needed slightly less.  I thought I would just tear off the excess which I did.  Then when making the rod pocket casing one side of the curtain was longer than the other.  It took me a while to realize this is how it tore.

ARGH!!!  I had to skimp a little on the top to make the curtain long enough.  

Yesterday I went to a kind of artsy farsty holiday craft show.  A couple things that cracked me up.  

Need a dog treat?

And these I didn't quite "get", but each to her own.  This booth had hundreds of burlap looking bags in two sizes with lights inside, stamped with just about anything imaginable.

Time to empty a few boxes . . . actually more than a few.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

The Crickets are Singing . . .

. . . and the deer are voracious.  I did not use any deer repellant this year (not that any I have found work that great) and they have decimated some of my hostas.  Some they eat and others they leave alone.  I guess I have picky deer.

My volunteer sunflower is so sweet.

My pond is teeny tiny.  3' in diameter.  I bought seven $.17 feeder fish and two survived.  They started out at maybe 1 1/2" and now must be 4" long and pretty fat.  That is fish food floating in the water.  I feed them pretty good.

My only accomplishment has been to finish these pinkeeps.  Kind of pathetic, don't you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Around the Yard ~

 A little walk around the yard yesterday.

A little clarification.  DSO's hot rod is a kit.  It is designed to look like a '35 Ford truck.  Everything is new.  He did not want old car issues.  Thanks for all the kind comments regarding it.  They made his day!

My Rogue is back in service.  I was really getting nervous because I had not heard from the repair shop.  Mid afternoon I finally got a call that it was ready.  The problem?  A wasp had built a nest and goobered something up.  Whooda thunk?  I had already been scheduled for an oil change so that was taken care of, too.  A very reasonable repair.  I was beyond happy.  I am so lucky to have an honest mechanic!!!

Tomorrow and Thursday I have a local class with Jo Wick.  Many of you may recognize her from Facebook.  We are hooking and constructing a pencil pouch purse.  This has been on my "list" for many years.  I have a number of the pouches, but never took the time to figure out how to put it all together.  I much prefer to be shown how to construct it 😅

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

Why I Sometimes Get NOTHING Done ~

Yes, Sue, I occasionally "play" more than I should.  If I play two days in a row that is unusual, but three days???  I must say I am loving life 😁

Friday was off to two antique shops, one a mall and one a small shop loaded to the gills.  I didn't find much at the mall (that I was willing to spend $$ on) but did get a little vintage (?) table riser.  At the small shop I found two treasures.  A sauce boat to add to my feather edge collection . . . 

. . . and a 2 1/2 inch tall Peaseware container.  The little finial has a chip so the price was affordable.  I did not even notice the roughness on the bottom until I saw in the picture.  It is not noticeable in person and I just turned it around so you don't see the flaws.

The piece to the right on the bottom shelf and on the top shelf marked St. Louis Exposition 1904 are also Peaseware.

The small shop is Wm. Hromy Antiques.  If you are ever in the north east-ish Ohio area, his shop is a must stop. His gardens are breathtaking.  His yard is very shady . . . lots of hostas and other shade loving plants.  So many concrete cats!  Heavy moss on some items.  And antique grindstones.  Dozens and dozens.  Some are propped up.  Some used as path pavers.  Two antique feeding troughs are now fountains.  I should have taken more pictures!!!

I am a big fan of junk for the garden, so did find a number of treasures.  One day I purchased the rusty old funnel and then I bought this plant stand (the butterflies will be hidden in plants and not seen).  Nothing great and the only thing I had that fit in the opening was the funnel.  I also got part of a weathervane.  Thankfully DSO is very handy and will add a pipe to put in the ground.  Picture later 😄

Happy Monday!  I hope your week is off to a good start.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Yard Stuff ~

The yard is looking pretty good if I do say so myself, but lots of deadheading to do!  As you know, if you somehow get caught up, it is time to start over 😁

The Stella d'oros are starting to bloom.

Walking down by the lake the other morning, this great blue heron was sitting at the end of this little pier.  As I tried to get closer to get a picture, he took off.

I had my mammogram today.  Gotta take care of those tatas!  I have been going every 6 months to have a mammo plus an ultrasound of the right breast.  There was a cyst they have been watching.  Great news . . . the cyst is gone so I don't have to go back for a year.  Today's mammo though . . . OUCH!!!  Only one other time, decades ago, have I had such a painful one and I believe it was the same tech.  She has been there forever.  I swear she must have popped it!!!  Next week two doctor appointments ~ just annual checks.  I am thankful I have good insurance.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren